March 5, 2026 | WALLS 102 - Part 15

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‘Where’s Shrek?’: Ottawa City Council to reevaluate I & M Canal project

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Illinois Valley PADS to screen ‘No Address’ March 21 in Princeton

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Milton Pope School 2025-26 second trimester honor roll

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Ottawa named “dementia-friendly city” by Dementia Friendly America

The city of Ottawa is now officially a “dementia-friendly city”. After a year of work by community leaders to collaborate, educate, and train, Dementia Friendly America has recognized Ottawa for its commitment to making the city safe and friendly for people with dementia.According to the Dementia Friendly America website, “A dementia-friendly community is a village, town, city or county that is informed, safe and respectful of individuals living with dementia, their families and caregivers, and provides supportive options that foster quality of life.”Dementia Friendly America formally recognized Ottawa as dementia-friendly on Feb. 3, approving its application after a year of work spearheaded by Pleasant View Senior Living Senior Resident Life Director and Memory Support Director Joelle Patterson, and Pavilion Healthcare of Ottawa Activity Director Christine Simmons.“The two of us got together and wanted to make it happen for the town of Ottawa,” Patterson said. “Luckily, we have an amazing community and it did not take much effort to get some key people from the community and business owners together in a room, so we were very, very fortunate for that.”The Ottawa Police and Fire departments, La Salle County Health Department, City of Ottawa, T4 Medical, Spry Geriatric Therapy Group, Reddick Library, Nells Woodland, Alzheimers Association, La Salle County Nursing Home, YMCA, American Legion, NCAT and OSF were among those who participated.Patterson said they met at the Reddick Library every month for a year to discuss what becoming “dementia-friendly” would entail for the city of Ottawa.“We’ve been going through trainings to become dementia champions, to present dementia talks, to be able to make people and businesses a dementia friend or dementia friendly business,” Patterson said. “We really hope to make as many businesses dementia friendly in the town.”The dementia-friendly initiative follows similar efforts from Mendota, Princeton and other local municipalities.“We’re looking at education for community members, support for the caregivers and providing safe spaces for the people living with dementia,” Patterson said.A large part of this effort comes from the training of the action team, which will complete its final training later this month to become official dementia friends in the eyes of Dementia Friendly America.“The training goes over basic knowledge of dementia, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, and offers some tools that they can use to communicate and give simple steps to a person with dementia that will make it easier for them to establish what they’re trying to do,” Patterson said.Dementia Friendly America defines dementia as an umbrella term referring to a range of neurological conditions that affect a person’s brain over time, affecting a person’s cognitive abilities, such as their ability to think, remember, and reason, to levels that interfere with daily life.Patterson said she hopes the work of the community and the recognition from Dementia Friendly America will impact more than just residents living with dementia. “I think it’s going to help everyone involved. It’s going to help the person living with dementia feel included in the world they live in. We’re here to support the caregivers who are their main support as well,” Patterson said. “I want to live in a community where, if someday I develop dementia, I’m supported, loved and cared for by the community that I’ve lived in my entire life.”Dementia Friendly America is a national network of communities, organizations and individuals seeking to ensure that communities across the U.S. are equipped to support people living with dementia and their care partners.For more information, call 202-872-0888 or email dfstarvedrock@gmail.com.

LPHS recognizes High Scholarship Legion status students

During the La Salle-Peru Township High School High Scholarship Legion Honors program on the evening of Feb 26, students were recognized for earning high scholarship status for multiple semesters. High scholarship awards are presented to students who have a GPA of at least 3.5. Students who are awarded High Scholarship Legion status for three semesters will receive a pin. Students who are awarded High Scholarship Legion status for five or seven semesters will receive a medal. Pins and medals may be worn at graduation.Seniors recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for seven semesters were Keean Atkins, Britney Blair, Ryia Boaz, Alyssa Bokus, Braylin Bond, Claire Boudreau, Lyla Brady, Clarissa Casas, Emily Castaneda, Sophia Chiu, Isabella Cimei, Drew Depenbrock, Kiely Domyancich, Daniel Duncan, Addison Dziarnowski, Marisa Eggersdorfer, Marly Escatel, Morgan Ficek, Kelsey Frederick, KJ Gallik, Alyssa Garcia, Enrike Garcia, Adrian Gonzalez, Dagny Greer, Cayla Grieve, Nicholas Hachenberger, Sophia Hammerich, Griffin Hammers, Jameson Hill, Mazalyn Jackson, Emma Jereb, Madelaine Johns, Garrett Keith, Isabella Kennett, Saida Khouaja, Sadie Kiersnowski, Cade Kilmartin, Christian Konczak, Keya Kowalski, McKenzie Krzyaniak, Coleman Lambert, Giovani Legrenzi, Christian Limberg, Hunter Loebach, Aniya Lumpkins, Leo Maier, Alec Mandujano, Ever McCormick, Mackenzie McCoy, Benjamin Nicholson, Michael Niemiec, Brionna Noble, Alia Nowakowski, Nolan O’Brien, Joseph Patyk, Callie Perra, Lanie Ploch, Gracie Politsch, Meredith Politsch, Sophia Pyszka, Sebastian Quercia, Cameron Rankin, Johnathan Ricci, Anna Riva, Miley Sadnick, Nathaniel Salinas, Quinn Sherman, Ian Shevlin, Erick Sotelo, Lydia Steinbach, Radia Thompson, Clara Vaske, Taylor Vescogni and Bolander Weitl.Seniors recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for five semesters were Marlee Bankson, Gabriella Bulak, Victoria Campbell, Addyson Champlin, Mary Diss, Peyton Evans, Joseph Gallicchio, Cameron Harper, Collin Kalsto, Conner Kolowski, Agustin Konieczki, Alayna Lair, Amberleigh Marliere, Reason McCormick, Logan Miller, Molly Mudge, Scarlett O’Connell, Karmen Piano, Hayden Pode, Lucila Sandoval and Vicky Tejada.Seniors recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for three semesters were Erik Acosta, Brady Beckcom, Reece Doerr, Jayden Jeffries, Ashley Kawiecki, Jason Lu, Griffin May, Gracie Miller, Adan Molina, Sofia Nanez, David Nave, Lillian Salcido, Manuel Tejada, Darlyn Tejada Guardado, Kenny Tran, Sergio Valle, Emerson Vasquez and Nolan Wiezorek.Juniors recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for five semesters were Parker Abens, Evan Allen, Peyton Arthur, Jose Ayala, Gianni Baracani, Michael Booker, Margaret Boudreau, Ryne Bubela, Georgianette Buffo, Makenzie Chamberlain, Sophia Chiero, Charley Clifford, Alexander Crane, Alex Crooks, Adelyn Dawson, Dominic DiLuciano, Aubrey Duttlinger, Leah Dzik, Daniel Edwall, Greyson Ernat, Jeniah Gaitan, Camden Greathouse, Madelyn Gross, Charlotte Guttilla, Jacob Hall, Damon Hash, Carson Herman, Ryker Hernandez, Jett Hill, Alexus Hines, Hayden Hubinsky, Levi Johnson, Kyle Kmetz, Morgan Knowles, Dylan Kofoid, Emma Kolczaski, Brandon Lamps, Adelyn Leone, Sarah Lowery, Christopher Mackrow, Jocelyn Martinez, Paityn Maurice, Ismael Mejia, Annabella Messina, Jaron Morscheiser, Mason Morscheiser, Jackson Myers, Tai Nguyen, Desmond O’Dell, Zayden O’Dell, Audrey Olson, Anthony Padilla, Cashius Pappas, Prit Patel, April Pescetto, Zachary Pescetto, Paige Picco, Henry Pinter, Joslynn Piscia, Lyla Ploch, Landon Puetz, Keira Ratajczak, Leah Ricci, Addison Schweickert, Endrew Sell, Jaelyn Sell, Olivia Sereno, Cole Setchell, Paisleigh Shonk, Emma Short, Michaela Smith, Gavin Sondgeroth, Adrian Soto, John Sowers, Kyle Spelich, Breckin Spence, Caleb Strand, Benjamin Swanson, Briannah Tarkowski-Doubet, Jakob Terzick, Alexandra Trinidad, Shayla Turczyn, Gianni Verucchi, Riley Videgar, Anna Weitl, Clara Weitl, Rhyan Westerman and Payton Wren.Juniors recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for three semesters were Geno Argubright, Kaden Bertuli, Cayden Busch, Eliana Cervantes, Jareliz De Jesus, Sydney Delphi, Mianna Durando, Frances Frick, Logan Grzywa, Daniel Gutierrez, Matthew Haeffner, Logan Harmon, Mason Huitron, Allison Kiska, Joel Lightle, Audra Marincic, Dalton Meyer, Connor O’Flanagan, Gertrude Rathbun, Cameron Shutt, Ethan Sondgeroth and Aubry Wever.Sophomores recognized for High Scholarship Legion status for three semesters were Guliana Aguirre, Ryleigh Baldwin, Kathy Baltazar, Ava Bara, Killian Bauer, Emily Beavers, Kaitlyn Bibula, Caleb Bjerkaas, Reginald Boatner, Bree Bokus, Millie Bowers, Riley Buffo, Margaret Bumgarner, Adalberto Castaneda, Ellie Ceresa, Sophie-Lynn Chapin, Mia Chase, Addyson Ciesielski, Alexzander Clappier, Madilyn Cooley, Mary Craven, Collin Crew, Liliana Danekas, Peyton DeMaso, Mia Dille, Clare Domyancich, Anthony Dowding, Evan Downey, Ellie Draper, Madonna Duncan, Aiden Dziarnowski, Carter Dzik, Avalyn Edwall, Sydney Franklin, Jacob Frederick, Kalista Frost, Reagan Fundell, Hope Garncarz, Arley George, Justyn Griglione, Grayson Grzybowski, Kevin Guo, Grant Haage, Baylee Hanus, Kale-Jakobii Harden, Kailey Harper, Landon Harty, Lilah Hauter, Maci Horn, Hailey Hudkins, Cooper Jackson, Charlie Jeppson, Abigail Kawiecki, Griffin Kellett, Audrianna Kennett, Isla Kilday, Sophia Konczak, William Kummer, Owen Lamps, Ella Lannen, Eva Larios, Kolten Leffelman, Nathan Leffers, Nina Leffers, Rosalie Leininger, Faith Leopold, Ariana Lesman, Ayden Lesman, Emily Lowery, Matthew Mackrow, Shawn Marshall, Aaliyah Matos, Darius Mayhew, Espen McFadden, Julia McLaughlin, Kiera Mertes, Quinn Mertes, Mia Michaelson, Connor Mickelson, Mackenzie Miller, Evelyn Milton, Alexander Monjaras-Aguirre, Lily Morscheiser, Kacper Murawski, JoAn Murphy, Andrew Olivero, Emmitt Olsen, Isabella Pacheco, Miller Pangrcic, Adan Pantoja, Brooklyn Pelka, Aydia Petre, Jenna Pode, Addison Puetz, Madyson Putman, Isabella Pyszka, Addison Quiles, Vivianna Raccuglia, Luke Reinmann, Riley Russell, Jeshua Salazar, Jalynn Sanders, Adalyn Schmitt, Mayla Schmitt, Tegan Sebastian, Delia Sellers, Carson Sellett, Annika Skoog, Charlie Slusarek, Ryan Sobkowiak, Chase Southall, Emma Spayer, Janelle Steele, Mollie Thomson, Emma Tomlinson, Kash Tomsha, Makinley Torres, Cooper Turczyn, Camden Vasquez, Valeria Vazquez, Ma. Bea Athena Villena, Lilly Whitecotton, Avery Zborowski and James Daniel Zimmerman.

AARP offers driver safety program at Bureau County Senior Center

AARP is hosting a driver safety program at the Bureau County Senior Center.The program will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, at the center, 16 W. Marion St. in Princeton.The AARP Driver Safety Program is a classroom and online driving refresher course designed for drivers 50 and older. The program aims to help participants retain their driving competency.The course will focus on how to navigate changes, review driving strategies, emphasize being smart on the road, look at changing technology, examine the effects of aging on driving and learn about the changes aging residents need to accept.Upon completion of the course, participants receive a certificate to present to their auto insurance company, which may grant a premium discount.The course fee is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. The course is free to participants who are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare insurance. To register, call 815-879-3981.

‘Where’s Shrek?’: Ottawa City Council to reevaluate I & M Canal project

The Ottawa City Council is looking at how to move forward with its support of the I&M Canal after some commissioners noted that the current process is leaving the canal to resemble a swamp.At Tuesday’s Ottawa City Council meeting, Commissioner of Public Improvements Marla Pearson pointed out the need for a further plan, as the current one wasn’t getting the job done.“We need a better plan going in for what we’re going to do with the canal to make it aesthetic for the community so that people don’t walk by, look down and say, ‘Where’s Shrek at,’” Pearson said.Prompted by an email from Arnie Bandstra, President of the Ottawa Canal Association, the Council discussed the problems with the canal project and what to do moving forward.“I gave them a letter that listed all the things that they need to do, or at least that I would do, as they now take it over, just to make it a smooth transition to them,” Bandstra said. “We just need them to really pick up the ball.”Specifically, Bandstra said he thinks the city of Ottawa should take some measures to control the algae and the weeds, take over the management of the use of watercraft that the canal association has assembled, both canoes and kayaks, for people to use, and get somebody to be available to check them out for people to use them, in addition to the rewatering efforts.Ottawa Mayor Robert Hasty acknowledged there were some problems with the canal project.“Some of it has to do with the responsibilities that were given to the Ottawa Canal Association – which we then said, ‘You’re not gonna be doing it anymore’ – because they were unable to maintain it to the level of which they had promised,” Hasty said.Another concern brought up was the cost of the project. Commissioner of Public Health and Safety Tom Ganiere said the city had spent about $2 million on the project since it began, far more than it was supposed to at first.“This proposal said it was gonna cost $600,000,” he said. “In no way did I imagine that we’d be sitting here today talking about $2 million spent on the canal.”Hasty said the majority of the $2 million was spent in the project’s first three years and that funds devoted to the project in 2025 were in the neighborhood of $9,000-$12,000.“Moving forward, as far as what we’re gonna do with it, it’s going to continue to be much more scaled down, less than even that $12,000,” Hasty said.Enhancing the I & M Canal was proposed with the idea that the project would benefit the community and attract tourism.“It looks messy, it’s not aesthetically pleasing to look at and it doesn’t help us at all with tourism like it was supposed to,” Ganiere said. “Could it, if it worked? Yes. But nobody wants to go out and even paddle around in something that’s got algae all over it.”Using algae blockers is a measure that Ganiere said would not violate the licensing agreement made between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the city, although that agreement limits what the city can do.“It has not worked properly since day one. At what point do we call this what it is: a failed experiment, and move on?” Ganiere said.Hasty brought up the reality of what would have to be done if the Council decided to move on from the canal project.“When you’re 90%-95% to the finish line of having something that would be an asset to the community, to now turn face over $10,000 or $12,000, and dump more money than that into reverting it back to a grass field, now we’re throwing good money after bad,” Hasty said.The Council agreed to pause current efforts while reevaluating the future of the city’s involvement with the canal project.“I think probably what would be best at this point is to sit down and look at the numbers of both making corrections that would keep it so that you’re not filling the canal and maintaining it to the level of where it is, which I would call a pond at this point, and what the cost is going to be for us now to revert all of that property back to what it was prior, maintain it, seed it, grass it, etc,” Hasty said.Bandstra said the Council needs to act with some urgency as winter turns to spring.“If they don’t take control as soon as the weather turns, then the algae and the weeds get out of control,” he said. “I hope they’re not sitting on their hands waiting for it to become a problem, and then it can be too late at that point, and a much bigger project at the very least.”Once this assessment takes place, the Council will decide what action is necessary.

Milton Pope School 2025-26 second trimester honor roll

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AARP offers driver safety program at Bureau County Senior Center

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The program will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, at the center, 16 W. Marion St. in Princeton.

Ottawa named “dementia-friendly city” by Dementia Friendly America

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Dementia Friendly America formally recognized Ottawa as dementia-friendly on Feb 3, approving its application after a year of work spearheaded by Pleasant View Senior Living Senior Resident Life Director and Memory Support Director Joelle Patterson, and Pavilion

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